Memphis, Tenn. (Jan. 15) -- The University of Houston women's basketball team was defeated for the second-straight time on its current road trip, falling to the University of Memphis by a score of 69-48 Saturday afternoon at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on the UM campus.

Shunta Hart

Memphis (9-7, 3-2 Conference USA) got off to a fast start, building a 6-0 advantage in the opening minutes of the game for a lead it would never relinquish. Houston got as close as four points early, but never could get on track after shooting only 20 percent from the floor in the first half. The Lady Tigers went on a 21-6 run in the final seven minutes to take a 35-16 lead to the locker room at the intermission.

Memphis led by as many as 28 points in the second half but the Lady Cougars picked up the pace to force 17 turnovers and shoot almost twice as better (36.7 percent) for a 34-32 score in the second stanza. Junior center ShaRonda Lasseter was the leading scorer for the Houston with nine points while Shunta Hart was the leading rebounder, grabbing seven boards in 29 minutes of action. UH fell to 5-10 on the season and 2-3 in league action.

Memphis freshman center Shannon Hamp was the games' leading scorer with 16 points in 29 minutes, 12 of which were in the first half. Other Lady Tigers scoring in double figures were junior forward Tiffany Adkins, and sophomore forward Melissa Abraham who chipped in with 12 and 10, respectively.

Houston will next be in action at home in Hofheinz Pavilion on Friday, January 21, with a C-USA game vs. nationally-ranked Tulane. Tipoff will be at 7:00 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavilion.